KAYTEK THE WIZARD

KAYTEK THE WIZARD

﻿Written by Janusz Korczak, published in Polish in 1933
Translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones﻿
Illustrated by Avi Katz

Hardcover, 272 pagesPenlight Publications, 2012

ISBN: 978-098-386-850-7

Kaytek, a schoolboy who wants to become a wizard, is surprised to discover that, with practice, he is able to perform magic spells and change reality. With prospects of mischief in mind, he conceals his powers and playfully causes strange incidents in his school and neighborhood. Though harmless at first, Kaytek's antics and increasing abilities soon wreak major chaos around the city of Warsaw, and the police start searching for the cause.

Disillusioned, Kaytek leaves the country and wanders the world in search of the meaning of his unique abilities and their consequences. As Kaytek experiences a loss of innocence, the tone of the story and the accompanying illustrations get steadily darker. Revolving around the notion that power is not without responsibility nor without repercussions, this story speaks to every child's dream of freeing themselves from the endless control of adults, and shaping the world to their own designs.

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